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Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society
Ferris, C. D. 1971. An annotated checklist of the Rhopalocera of Wyoming.
Sci. Monogr. 23. Agri. Exp. Stat., Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie. Holland, W. J. 1898. The Butterfly Book. Doubleday, New York. Warren, B. C. S. 1936. Monograph of the Genus Erebia. British Museum
(Natural History), London. Westwood, J. O. 1851. In Doubleday, Gen. diurn. Lepid. 2: 380.
"ATTACKS" BY POLYGONIA INTERROGATIONS (NYMPHALIDAE) ON CHIMNEY SWIFTS AND INSECTS
Re-reading a note by Pyle (1972, J. Lepid. Soc. 26: 261) on a Lorquin's Admiral (Limenitis lorquini burrisonii Maynard) that chased after a Glaucous-winged Gull brought to mind some observations I made this past summer in Bartlesville, Washington County, Oklahoma on bird and insect-chasing by Polygonia interrogationis (Fabricius).
On 8 July 1973 I was exploring a field that contained a few trees surrounding a small marsh. Chimney Swifts (Chaetura pelagica) were often observed hunting over this area, sometimes making passes within 6 ft. of the ground surface. When a swift passed near a particular tree I noticed a butterfly in pursuit for some 20-30 ft. before breaking off with the chase. The butterfly, a male Question Mark, then returned to the tree and began a methodical patrol of one section of the tree, flying back and forth in front of it with periodic darts and chases after other flying insects including beetles, dragonflies, and other butterflies. I sat down next to the tree and decided to observe the butterfly's behavior, when another swift flew by. The Question Mark immediately took pursuit as before. After a brief chase the butterfly returned to the tree and resumed its patrolling. I was able to observe this behavior for several days but only in the evenings after 1800 hrs. At this time the butterflies were out patrolling and the Chimney Swifts were hunting over the field and marsh.
Pyle suggested that the chasing behavior exhibited by his Lorquin's Admiral was most likely a courtship chase, presumably the pursuit of a possible female. This possibly applies to the Question Mark since any flying object was pursued until it was apparently recognized. Another possibility is that these animals are exhibiting aggressive territorial behavior and are attacking all flying intruders. I observed some prolonged chases by two of the Question Marks in which they flew head-on at each other and beat the opponents wings with their own. Usually, however, one would make a "sneak attack" on the other and pursue it from the rear until it either chased the first temporarily away or was out-maneuvered. A third possibility would be a combination of the first two in which the butterfly leaves its post in pursuit of a possible female. When the butterfly identifies the object it either ceases pursuit or continues after in either an aggressive attack or a courtship chase.
D. Paul Hendricks, 305 East Maplewood Avenue, Littleton, Colorado 80121.